• On Friday evening, college football brings us four exciting group five games
• UConn's red-hot defense looks to shut down a struggling Georgia State squad
• Check out our top picks for today's college football slate below

The Friday night lights are back on and we can look forward to a fascinating slate of Group of Five action. Although we have four games on the schedule tonight, two betting options really stand out – particularly with an up-and-coming UConn team hosting Georgia State.

South Florida takes on FAU, which should set up a showdown with Florida, while UConn looks to continue its defensive dominance against Georgia State. Yale hosts Columbia in an Ivy League duel and Boise State crowns the evening by welcoming San Diego State to the blue turf.

Let's break down our top plays and predictions for tonight's college football action.

Friday College Football Odds – November 1st

Odds from November 1st. Grab the DraftKings promo code to bet on these games.

Now let's get into our college football predictions for each game on Friday.

South Florida vs. FAU selection

If you're looking for some offensive fireworks tonight, you may want to look elsewhere. Both offenses have struggled to find their rhythm this season, with South Florida scoring 25.1 points per game while FAU managed just 24.4 points. If you take a closer look at the numbers, everything points to “Under”.

The ground game should dominate this game, with South Florida's rushing attack (217 YPG) going up against an FAU defense that has been gashed for 230 rushing yards per game. The Bulls' backup quarterback Bryce Archie has only completed 53% of his passes, meaning we'll likely see a high percentage of running plays.

W at the 📊#ComeToTheBay | #StayInTheBay pic.twitter.com/QpzAVqnn0u

– USF Football (@USFFootball) October 21, 2024

South Florida's defense withstood the rush, ranking 12th nationally in EPA rushing percentage. That's bad news for an FAU team that ran the ball 52 times compared to just 26 passes in its last game against FIU.

Current trends illustrate the story here: FAU has not exceeded the 24-point mark in any of its last three games. With both teams likely to stay on the floor and control the clock, this game has all the makings of a low-scoring affair.

• Pick: Under 47.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

UConn vs Georgia State Prediction

Don't look now, but UConn plays serious football. Their defense was nothing short of spectacular, ranking 31st nationally in both points scored and total yards allowed. Even more impressive? They leave the field on third downs at a top rate and allow just 25.4% conversions – second best in the country.

That spells trouble for a Georgia State team that has struggled to sustain its offense, converting just 36.7% of its third downs (101st nationally). The Panthers face four games against opponents from the Sun Belt and will now face a UConn team that is on the right track.

The Huskies' red zone defense tells you everything you need to know about this team – they have allowed just nine touchdowns on 25 opposing trips. Meanwhile, their balanced attack has produced nine rushing TDs and eight passing TDs in the last five games.

When you combine UConn's ball-control offense with their stifling defense, you have a recipe for coverage. Look for the Huskies to wear down the Panthers and pull away in the second half.

• Pick: UConn -7.5 (-110 at DraftKings)